I never thought I'd do placenta encapsulation, but here I am, and happily writing a review about…read moreit! I was put in touch with Taylor's service through my birth doula. After the birth, Taylor was very prompt with processing my raw capsules. Whether or not it's the placebo effect, it seems like there's a noticeable, positive difference with my overall energy levels, emotional balance, and my milk supply. To test their efficacy I'd stop taking the pills, and would soon notice more challenging emotional waves -- I was so grateful I could pop a few capsules and rapidly notice a stabilization! I'd absolutely do encapsulation again, and do it with Taylor. Couldn't recommend North Bay Placenta Services enough!

Taylor is a wonderful person to work with; Not only did she…read moreattend my birth and supported me through labour, she also took my placenta and returned it in form of capsules within two days. When the postpartum blues hit me those capsules helped me regulate my emotions. I have been taking them daily and I am almost through my supply. I highly recommend this service!

Did a prenatal massage with Gracie and she's wonderful! The room is nice, she had all the comfort…read morepillows and really listened to where I noted any aches or pains to address. She also included some breathing techniques which was nice. Afterwords she also offered drinks and snacks from the studio lounge which being pregnant is always appreciated. Loved my massage here.

I reached out to Brilliant Births to find a birth doula. They offer a matching service and…read moreconnected me to 3 doulas who work independently (not employees of BB). We were really fortunate to find our birth doula (who we love!), but the other 2 candidates were not very impressive. The first doula missed our appointment with no follow-up communication. We were initially confused and thought she was the coordinator for BB, because she only communicated by text. The actual meeting was just by telephone so there was no face-to-face interaction, which felt strange. We could've easily FaceTimed or Zoomed. So communication and reliability were not great. The second doula abruptly canceled our half-hour appointment when we were 10 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment due to my husband wrapping up a Zoom meeting. During our appointment time, she was responding to my emails (in which I apologized for being late), but insisted she could no longer meet with us. I thought this was a really bad sign about what she would be like to work with - labor and delivery is rarely precisely timed and some flexibility is needed. In addition, her email said that she lives in Portola Valley, but we live Berkeley (also where Brilliant Births is located). This also struck me as strange, because it would take 1.5 hours for her to arrive to meet us at the hospital, which is not ideal.

I am so incredibly happy that Becca was our doula for our hospital birth. This was my first baby,…read moreand I knew that all I wanted was for the baby to be healthy and to avoid an emergency C-section if I could. We met with Becca and knew right away that she was the perfect person to help us in preparing for and giving birth. She immediately set us at ease by assuring us that the hospital we chose had an excellent Labor and Delivery team. She was 100% right about that, and everything else. She helped me trust myself and my body. I never thought I would have such an amazing and thoroughly happy birth experience. Becca really cares. It meant a lot to us that she also visited us after the birth to check in and provide some very welcome support. If we have another baby, we will definitely work with Becca, again!

I could not imagine my first birth without Becca! From the very first phone call, I felt an instant…read moreconnection with her--she's such a kind, caring soul and a true expert in her field. One of the things that impressed me most was how seamlessly she read the dynamic between me and my husband. She always knew when to step in with support and when to step back and give us space. That balance was invaluable during such an emotional, vulnerable time. When my birth plan didn't go the way I had envisioned, Becca's expert advice and calm presence gave me so much security in the decisions I had to make. She helped me feel grounded, informed, and confident every step of the way and encouraged me to listen to my instinct and body. Another aspect of her support that you simply can't put a price on is how connected she is at Kaiser. She knew nearly every midwife and nurse, and because of her strong relationships there, I felt reassured that the care I was receiving was exactly what I needed. Her presence gave me an extra layer of trust in the whole process. Becca communicated beautifully, supported us with such compassion, and helped make my first birth experience one that I will cherish forever. I can't recommend her enough--if you're considering a doula, Becca is truly one of a kind! Thank you so much Becca!

I've been seeing Christina for over a year. Initially I wanted to experience craniosacral therapy…read more Christina starts each session with your intention. Mine was a desire to feel a sense of safety in my body. That was and has been amazing, to be able to feel safe from within. With her support I was able to start to reconnect with my body, which I didn't even realize was numb/disconnected! Due to her additional pre and perinatal training I've also been able to discover and heal early wounds that my body had memory of, but that my mind and talk therapy had not been able to access. Christina has been vital in my healing from childhood developmental trauma in a safe way without retraumatizing. She's role modeled and helped me learn to have compassion and love for myself, and to grow my emotional capacity and tolerance. When I bump into difficult memories or emotions, Christina is there to walk me through it to welcome them in compassionate way. Christina's calming presence helps me to feel safe and supported, which is critical for healing. She is a special soul and a true healer.

We are so grateful to have worked with Christina. When we got pregnant with our first child, we…read moreknew we wanted a natural, peaceful birth and Christina helped support ​our vision​ every step of the way. In the prenatal visits, she helped​ us discover our ideal birth​ scenario and​​ ​provided us with resources (visualization​s​, books, audio recordings) to help support our preferences. She helped ​prepare us for ​the many decisions​ of pregnancy, labor & delivery and newborn care, so we could make the best choices for our family. When our son's birth arrived, Christina was amazing. She was right there from my initial contractions to post-birth. She knew just how and when to jump in, but also when to give both me and my husband our space. Christina reminded my husband and I focus on one another and the incredible event happening to us. She is very familiar with Marin General ​which​ helped us navigate our admission and get comfortable in the hospital space. ​She gave good suggestions on different positions to minimize my pain while also ensuring my labor progressed. With her help, we had a beautiful, all natural birth. ​Afterward, Christina followed up with us and came to visit our new baby multiple times. She even gave our baby a cranial sacral treatment and came back to give me a much needed postpartum massage. I can't say enough good things about Christina. She is incredibly conscientious and caring. She is a wonderful, calming doula and a talented masseuse. I highly recommend her.

I reached out to a few doulas and felt an immediate connection with Alexis. From the first moment…read morewe spoke, she was so generous with her time and wisdom, as well as personal anecdotes to help me get a better sense of the types of scenarios we should be thinking through. She also helped me navigate the world of prenatal care - sharing the names of a wonderful birth class, prenatal masseuse and chiropractor that kept me in decent shape up until my birth. During labor, Alexis was a perfect partner to my husband and me. My labor was long, and having Alexis there with us meant that I always had a rested partner to help me through labor. She also helped us navigate the many decisions that inevitably arise during birth, and I can honestly say that while it didn't go according to "plan," it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life and I give Alexis so much credit for that. She's incredibly passionate about what she does and even after birth, was an incredible resource and partner to us in those early, uncertain weeks. We're lucky to have her in the Bay Area!

This is a long over due review. Alexis was my doula for the birth of my second son (7/24/14). My…read morehusband and I couldn't have done it without her. I contacted Alexis late into my pregnancy because I really wanted my second birth to be without an epidural. I didn't have the best experience with my first birth and I really wanted this time to be different. Alexis reassured me that this was a different birth and that my body was meant for this. From the moment I spoke to her I knew she was meant to be a doula. She is super calm and sweet and you can tell she loves what she does. We met shortly there after and I didn't have to interview anyone else (although I spoke to many over the phone). I wasn't too happy with my doctor at the time and Alexis not only knew who he was but helped me research other doctors and suggested many others to me.. She always responded to all of my silly questions and concerns and helped me come up with a birth plan. The day I went into labor I called Alexis and she gave me the option to come over or let me keep laboring on my own at home and meet me later. I felt calm and confident so I stayed in the tub and labored from home and stayed in touch with her. She could tell just by talking to me if I was close or not. When the time came I called Alexis and we met at the hospital. I can honestly say that thanks to Alexis I was able to have an un-medicated birth, my husband said it was the best money we have ever spent (and he was hesitant about getting a doula). Alexis helped me through the contractions and helped me remain calm. She even stayed long after to help in any way that she could. The only regret I have is that I didn't take any pictures with her that day.

tomi is amazing!!! she has great customer service and the ability to make sure she is delivering…read morequality care....i delivered my bundle of joy and she went to work on my placenta and the results are priceless......i received my capsules in a cute little jar along with a beautiful art piece that she had mad for me and a bunch of other goodies...tomi has once again did her thanggg!!!!! and for that i want to say thank you..ill do it again

I was recommended to Tomi by my families acupuncturist and I am so glad I found her! Tomi was so…read moreeasy to communicate with throughout the whole process. All of the emails she sent were so informative and made the process smooth and so easy to understand. Although I wasn't able to meet Tomi because I am in the North Bay, my mother was able to drop off and pick up for me and said that Tomi was amazing and so nice! I was so nervous going into my second pregnancy because I had such horrible postpartum with my first, but was made aware that encapsulating my placenta could provide multiple benefits. I am absolutely shocked at how well I felt and continue to feel taking the capsules. No baby blues, my mood has boosted, more energy, and have even noticed an increase in breast milk. My package included my capsules and a complimentary picture of my placenta, my babies cord keepsake, and a blood print of my placenta and I couldn't be happier. Tomi, thank you so much!

Anne Marie is amazing. She really listened to what I wanted during my birth, and did her part to…read moremake that happen. Her practice feels very family centered, authentic and passion based. My whole prenatal and post-partum period (as well as the birth) I felt so seen and cared for. AnneMarie turned a beautiful experience into sheer magic.

Annemarie at Marin Midwifery was amazing! If you're looking for a midwife in the San Francisco,…read moreMarin, or Sonoma areas, she is the one to hire. My wife and I are so very grateful for the work she did for us. Here's what my wife had to say... After watching the business of being born I knew I wanted to have a home birth. I wanted to experience the natural process of labor and I wanted to bring my child into this world in a peaceful manner. I am so happy with my decision. Annemarie was an amazing midwife. Every prenatal visit lasted at least an hour. She answered all my questions and concerns. She offered me tons of advice on nutrition and suggestions on what supplements to take to help with various pregnancy issues. She explained the birthing process in great detail so that I knew what to expect. I knew that I could depend on Annemarie to guide me through labor and delivery. During my pregnancy when a problem came up, she was quick to order blood work and did not hesitate to refer me to a doctor when the results were out of her expertise. I appreciated that. It was clear that her main priority was the health and safety of me and my unborn child. Three months before my due date our family moved out of Marin. I didn't think Annemarie would still be able to continue services but she was committed. This meant that she had to drive three hours to and from my house. During my labor she knew when to give me space and when to offer support. Even though she had arranged for a local midwife to assist her with my birth, labor progressed so quickly that she had to work solo. I was amazed at how quickly and effortlessly she handled everything. She delivered my baby, checked vitals, cleaned, gave me stitches, packaged the placenta. The next morning she made breakfast for my family and I. She is an amazing human being and I highly recommend her.

As a new parent, the postpartum period is challenging enough without having to deal with the stress…read moreand disappointment of a difficult agency. While Stork and Sprout does have some excellent doulas on its team who provided great support and coaching, my experience with the agency's leadership was overwhelmingly negative. We had a particularly difficult time with Brittany. She demonstrated a pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, and lying, both to us and, from what I understand, to her own employees. Our contract promised consistent coverage, but the scheduling was erratic and communication was poor. We were left to wonder many nights if we would have support, and for several weeks, we only received 1 to 2 days of support instead of the 6 to 7 we paid for. When we requested a refund for the services not provided, Brittany refused and even fought our bank with out-of-context emails and more lies. She claims she "offered a refund" but is even today refusing to honor it as she says in the response. The lack of professionalism extended to some of the staff as well; one sick doula was sent to our home and intentionally caused our newborn physical pain. Brittany treated us like we were the difficult ones and responded with empathy-less chatGPT emails to manage the situation. We were also led to believe we would have one primary doula with a backup, but over the course of our service, we had seven different doulas come to our home. This complete lack of continuity made an already difficult period even more stressful. Based on my experience, I would advise new parents to skip Stork and Sprout and work directly with an independent doula. You will not only save the 30-40% extra fee the agency charges for scheduling, but you will also avoid the toxic and difficult management. This experience is unacceptable for a service that costs tens of thousands of dollars and demands payment upfront months ahead of providing the service. We were not able to switch easily due to the inflexible Carrot reimbursement process through the employer.

I truly couldn't have accomplished my VBAC goals without the incredible support of the Stork and…read moreSprout birth doula team. From the very first moment I needed them through labor and all the way until I was settled into the maternity floor with my new little boy, they were there every step of the way. Their calm presence, deep knowledge, encouragement, and advocacy made all the difference during such an intense and meaningful experience. I felt supported, empowered, and never alone. I am beyond grateful for their care and dedication and would wholeheartedly recommend Stork and Sprout to anyone preparing for birth--especially those pursuing a VBAC.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience working with Alana Corrin through Healthy Mamas,…read moreHealthy Babies. First, learning about the services and speaking with Amber was great. She is highly organized and very responsive. I also loved the online mom support groups with different topics covered each week - these were so helpful! For the doula services, Alana was wonderful. She is very laid back and easy to talk to while also being super knowledgable and attentive. I wasn't sure if I was going to try to have a natural birth or get an epidural and I felt like Alana was ready to support me no matter what option I wound up choosing. Also, my husband tends to be very anxious around any medical or hospital setting so we weren't sure if he would be able to be with me for all of labor and delivery. Our meeting before birth was great because Alana was able to listen to his concerns and talk him through what L&D would be like so he wouldn't be so nervous. We only wound up being able to have one pre-birth meeting because my baby decided to show up 6.5 weeks early! Thankfully, Alana was able to meet us at the hospital within an hour of my husband calling her (around 3am??). My labor proceeded very quickly and we were both overwhelmed because we had not anticipated having our baby that early. Alana remained a calm and consistent presence throughout my labor and for a while after delivery after they took my baby to the NICU. She was also able to ask the nurses and doctors questions we had completely forgotten to ask and kept us up to date with everything that was happening. My husband wound up being able to stay for most of L&D and I think a lot of that has to do with Alana being there - we both felt fully supported the entire time. We had three post-partum sessions with Alana and they were also incredibly helpful. I would definitely recommend her to others and would love to work with her again if we wind up having another baby (hopefully closer to my due date next time, hehe)!

Ok, I gave 4 stars to highlight the comment. I'm honestly not sure what the right number of stars…read moreis. We consulted and ended up NOT hiring her (we had 1 video appointment). She seems to know things well, no concerns there, but we were a bit put off by the very commercial set up, ie, the initial consultation had a charge while all the other doulas were ok to do a free into over video. Then we got cut off because the initial intro appointment was so time limited (I think it was 15 minutes if I recall). Her regular emails are helpful, but we ended up not hiring her just because it seemed so money driven (her prices are on the high end, which looking at the reviews does seem to be somewhat justified).

Hiring Meleah was one of the best decisions we made as first-time parents…read more She was an incredible resource throughout pregnancy, helping us prepare for labor, birth, and life with a newborn. When labor finally arrived, her support was invaluable. She brought a calm, reassuring presence, helped us navigate decisions, and was a tremendous advocate and source of encouragement during a long and emotional experience. Having her with us at the hospital made a world of difference. After our daughter was born, Meleah continued to be an amazing source of knowledge and support. Whether we were struggling with feeding challenges, babywearing (she wrote a book on it!), sleep deprivation, or just trying to figure out what was normal, she always helped us find a path forward and gave us confidence as new parents. Meleah combines deep expertise with genuine compassion, and it's obvious how much she cares about the families she works with. We are incredibly grateful for her guidance and would recommend her without hesitation to any expecting parents.

As a first time mom, I can honestly say that I don't know what I would have done without Meleah! In…read morethe months leading up to my due date, Meleah helped me build my birth plan; she provided reading material that discussed the pros and cons of each decision I needed to make and then went through them with me, answering any questions I had, so I could make informed decisions. She even covered contingencies that I hadn't even considered. She also worked with us on techniques for coping with labor pains and guided us through what to expect once I was in labor. When my induction did not go as planned and I completely lost trust in my doctor (who made some very questionable recommendations), I was SO grateful that I had Meleah by my side every step of the way to make sure I understood my options and help me advocate for myself. She was then with me during my c-section, narrating what was happening and snapping pictures when my son was delivered. Then, when he was taken to the NICU for a brief period after delivery, she stayed with me, keeping me calm and relaying any news from my husband who went with our baby. It was definitely not the birth we had planned, but I feel so fortunate that Meleah was there guiding us through it. She also went above and beyond after the birth and was an immense support to us during our first days home with a newborn. She gave us helpful tips on breastfeeding, swaddling, and baby wearing, and helped us locate additional postpartum support when we found we needed it. She really cares about her clients and is amazing with babies! You can tell that she has found her calling and really enjoys what she does.